The book The Betrayal of Local 14, by Julius Getman is a very interesting book that explains the seventeen month strike that occurred at the International Paper Company, at the Androscoggin Mill in Jay, Maine. Twelve hundred workers were represented by Local 14 of United Paperworkers International Union.
             The Androscoggin Mill struck with unions in Lock Haven, Pennsylvania, and Depere, Wisconsin. The strike started in June of 1987 and only ended in October of 1988. The main cause of the strike was because International Papers wanted to lower labor costs, reduce some jobs, and gain more management for the company. The company proposed to eliminate Sunday premium, and the Christmas shutdown. The union workers refused these items, and after negotiations were not successful, they went on strike. During this decade there were major anti-concession strikes that were routinely defeated, so this should have been a warning for the Androscoggin Mill that this would not be an easy battle. If the union workers would have evaluated some previous strikes during the 80s, they may have been able to avoid some of the money and time lost in this strike. Many times history just repeats itself.
             The union was led by president Bill Meserve, and was assisted by outside organizers such as Peter Kellman and Ray Rogers. This strike had hundreds of participants. They participated in many meetings and campaigns. Winning this strike was a difficult battle because of the union's inability. They would have needed more assistance, if other unions would have also rejected the concession. During the early stages of the strike the national union refused to support Local 14's plan to send teams of striking locals, they felt it would be less expensive to have trained staff work on the problems in each location.
             This was similar to a strike that occurred in the 1930s. This battle was very costly in more than one way, money spent, productivity d...